Jan. 24, 1992

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Catholic

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rving Catholics in

News & Herald

Western North Carolina

Volume

in the Diocese of Charlotte

1

Number 20 • January

24, 1992

50 At Mass For The Unborn Hear lea To Promote Cause Of Life KAY FILAR

By

CHARLOTTE their

unique

— Everyone

gifts to

should

promote the cause

said Father Ed Sheridan, pastor of St.

life,

ibriel,

at a special

abortion

ough diocesan programs.

:nts

are called to be "instru-

of change in our society," he said.

The Mass was concelebrated by BishJohn F. Donoghue and Michael J. gley to mark the 19th anniversary of the preme Court Roe

vs.

can create the climate

in

said Father

Sheridan.

Father Sheridan urged his listeners to evaluate world events and take a stand in

Jan. 19.

Not everyone is called to be on the front picketing, marching and participating rescues, Father Sheridan told about 850 jple who attended the afternoon Mass. it is everyone comfortable working di:tly with people who need counseling all

we

which miracles can happen,

Mass calling for an end

on Sunday,

However,

or school,"

Wade decision that

whatever way God directs. This

will lead to

a "reawakening of the value of life given by

God, which no one has the right to take away," he said. Linda James, a St. Gabriel parishioner and mother of two children, attended the

Mass

to learn

tion,

she said.

more about the

As

a

new

pro-life posi-

Catholic

who

completed RCIA classes less than two years ago, this

was her

first

involvement

in pro-

life activity.

home

without

religious connections, she said.

Conse-

James grew up

a

in

issues often conflict with the positions of

A reading >spel

for the

Mass was from

the

account of the miracle at the Cana

which Mary prayed unceasand his ministry, and asked Jesus' help when she was concerned out a problem. She followed her prayers d questions with action by doing and couraging others to "do whatever (the dding

in

>ly for her Son

«d)

her family. Father Sheridan's message confirmed

her feelings against abortion and helped easier to

convey her feelings

family and others, she said.

ason.

tell

ace in gatherings such as this

one today

BELMONT— With the rite of abbatial

like

many

others,

members of

whether new

the pro-life ranks,

blessing, Benedictine Father Oscar Burnett,

became the seventh abbot of Belmont Abbey on Jan. 19. He was elected on Dec. 21, 1991; chosen by his brother monks at Belmont Abbey to serve as abbot. 65,

the long and difficult

work

Filar

is

a member of St. Gabriel

opportunity

is

In his

in

of hospi-

many, many

comments following

the cer-

better place for our having lived here," said

monks, that living family of faith and love which he has been called to serve." Under the Rule of St. Benedict, the abbot is called father, teacher, shepherd and administrator. He helps and guides the monastic coummunity and indivdual monks to realize the charism expressed in the Rule

Abbot

new

abbot. Bishop

In his charge to the

Donoghue

presented at home, office

and brotherly support ways."

tality

He

the

d through action and speaking out when :

plified their Benedictine traditions

depends upon the assistance of his brother

on

Donoghue

also

served as main celebrant and homilist.

Parish in Charlotte.

since I first came to Charlotte in 1984. The Abbey has shown to my priests a great sense of fraternity. The monks have exem-

emony, Abbot Burnett said "God has extravagantly blessed Belmont Abbey over the past 1 1 5 years. All of you people of God have made our mission in North Carolina and beyond possible and successful." "We monks pledge our continued work and prayer in collaboration with you so that our educational and pastoral works might make our lives better and our locality a

Mass, Bishop John F. Donoghue of the Diocese of Charlotte confered the blessing

ahead.

Installed In

me

In a monastic-centered, concelebrated

Gabriel with renewed energy and

Kay

JOANN KEANE

Photo by

Associate Editor

is

said.

d families, through asking for the Lord's

Belmont Abbey

conferring the abbatial

BY JOANN KEANE

also under-

does not always favor their methods, she

commitment to

you." (John 2:5)

"Through daily prayer as individuals

It

While James supports demonstrators, she

left St.

Donoghue

Ceremony At Belmont Abbey

called to demonstrate at abortion clinics.

or veteran

Burnett, inside the

F.

Seventh Benedictine Abbot

to her

scored her feelings that not everyone

James,

Bishop John

new convictions about pro-life

quently, her

Twenty clergy from the Charlotte area listed. Music was provided by the St. ibriel parish choir directed by Mary Richie 1 accompanied by organist Esther Gregg, mist Ann Fehring and flutist Sharon

it

installed Jan. 19 with

blessing.

erturned laws restricting abortion.

made

Belmont Abbey's seventh abbot, Benedictine Abbott Oscar Church where he was

to be an abbot.

receives it is

of

It is

abbot, Bishop

it is

no easy

task

a heavy burden that each

on the occasion of his election, but

not a burden that

St.

new

said, "Clearly,

is

borne alone.

Benedict, a sixth-century guide to

monastic and Christian

Burnett.

"God has been recklessly generous to me over many fruitful years. Being elected abbot

at

over 65 years-of-age

chose, but I am in good hands.

remain grateful to you for

is

no easy

shall

this

always

day of

my

when all of you gathered here to Bishop Donoghue in blessing me."

blessing join

Abbot Burnett

life.

I

will serve as abbot for

Abbot Burnett will supervise all religious and temporal affairs of the monastery.

He can be re-elected for another eight-year term. He succeeds Benedictine

In addition to his monastic responsibihties,

Father Timothy Kelly of

Abbot Burnett serves as chancellor of Belmont Abbey College. "Abbot Oscar, you do not stand alone,"

in Collegeville, Minn.,

said

Bishop Donoghue, "today, nor

future of your service of

in the

eight years.

St.

John's

Abbey

who was serving as

temporary administrator.

Catholic Schools

Week

Belmont Abbey.

You stand with the prayers, the support, the affection, theencouragementofus all. all,

Above

your fellow monks pledged with you

to

hasten the heavenly country, will stand with

you, receiving you as their abbot with sincere and

humble

affection."

"Since 1887

was blessed

when Abbot Leo Haid

as the

first

Abbot of Belmont,

abbey has made precious and important contributions to the Diocese of Raleigh, and this

since 1972

Ishop John F. Donoghue, retired Bishop Michael narlotte concelebrate a '0

people attended the

J.

Mass for the unborn Jan. 19 Mass and heard a plea to use

lp put an end to abortion.

when

lished, to the

Begley and other at St.

priests

of the Diocese of

Gabriel Church in Charlotte. About

their gifts to

promote the cause of life and Photo by

KAY FILAR

this

diocese

was

estab-

Diocese of Charlotte," said

Bishop Donoghue. Bishop Donoghue expressed his personal gratitude "for the assistance furnished

See Catholic Schools pages.

Week

stories

Photo by JO AN^

on inside


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